Heat vs Nuggets live stream: How to watch NBA Finals game 1 online right now, start time, channel

(L, R) Jimmy Butler and Nikola Jokic will face off in the Heat vs Nuggets live stream of Game 1 of the 2023 NBA Finals
(Image credit: Maddie Meyer and Icon Sportswire / Getty Images)

Hope you've got your way to watch the Heat vs Nuggets live stream, because it's game time! And while both the Heat and Nuggets had 3-0 series leads in their NBA Playoff live streams for the Conference Finals, only Denver managed to sweep. The Heat needed all seven games to fend off the Boston Celtics.

Heat vs. Nuggets live stream cheat sheet

Date: Today (Thursday, June 1)
Time:
8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT / 1:30 a.m. BST / 11:30  a.m. AEDT
Watch in the U.S.:
ESPN3 on Sling TV Orange, ABC on Fubo and in select markets on Sling TV Blue
Watch from anywhere: with ExpressVPN.

In their four games against the Los Angeles Lakers, the Nuggets looked like a force of nature, led by their inimitable center Nikola Jokic. The big man (assisted by his team) brought Denver its first ever NBA Finals with that sweep, posting his eighth triple-double of this playoffs by the third quarter of that game. 

That alone puts Jokic in the history books, breaking Wilt Chamberlain's record for triple doubles in a single postseason. But he didn't take his foot off the gas after that achievement, and kept going until the very end, lacing a needed layup in with 51 seconds on the clock. 

Opposite the Nuggets, the Miami Heat arrive at this Game 1 after almost being on the wrong side of history. After winning the first three games of their Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics, Miami fumbled in three consecutive games. 

Fortunately for the people who sell white t-shirts in Miami, Jimmy Butler woke up in Game 7, scoring 28. Teammate Caleb Martin's 26 points and 10 rebounds felt crucial, though, during the moments Butler wasn't the Jimmy "Buckets" of yore.

DraftKings, at the time of publication, still has the Nuggets (-360) as favorites, and Heat (+295) as the underdogs, the odds we've seen since yesterday. So, betting $360 on the winning Nuggets would earn you $100, and a $100 bet on the winning Heat would net you $295.  

Here's everything you need to know to watch the Heat vs. Nuggets live stream online.

How to watch Heat vs. Nuggets live streams from anywhere on Earth with a VPN

Having trouble actually getting ESPN? Even if you can't watch the Heat vs. Nuggets live streams on cable, you're not out of luck. With a virtual private network, or VPN, you can appear to be surfing the web from your home town (or somewhere that blackouts won't hit), and access the same streaming services you already paid for. 

Not sure which VPN is right for you? We've tested many different services and our pick for the best VPN overall is ExpressVPN. It offers superb speeds and excellent customer service. But you've got other VPN options as well. Here are our top picks.

ExpressVPN

We think speed, security and simplicity make <a href="https://go.expressvpn.com/c/4550836/1330033/16063?subId1=hawk-custom-tracking&sharedId=hawk&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.expressvpn.com%2Fgo%2Fstream-basketball-live" data-link-merchant="expressvpn.com"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">ExpressVPN second to none. During our tests, we saw fast connection times, and we're impressed by the service's ability to access more than 3,000 services spread out across 160 locations in 94 countries. 

Heat vs. Nuggets live streams around the world

Heat vs. Nuggets live streams in the U.S.

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The Heat vs. Nuggets live stream is on ABC and ESPN3 at 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT on Thursday (June 1).

If you've already cut the cord and don't have a cable package? With the right pick from our best cable TV alternatives, you'll be able to watch it and all of the NBA playoff games. ABC is also on FuboTV, which offers quad-box and 

Instead, you consider Sling TV, one of the best streaming services, which has TNT. For future NBA playoff live streams, ABC games will simulcast on ESPN3, which is available through Sling Orange. ABC is also available in select markets for Sling Blue. Those markets are Chicago (WLS), Fresno (KFSN), Houston (KTRK), Los Angeles (KABC), New York (WABC), Philadelphia (WPVI), Raleigh-Durham (WTVD) and San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose (KGO).  All but Fresno, Houston and Raleigh will pay $5 more per month for ABC in either Sling Blue or Sling Orange & Blue.

Sling is 50% off for the first month making it a perfect place to watch all of the NBA playoffs. Sling Orange also gets you ESPN, and its Sports Extra pack gets you NBA TV.

Of course, you can also watch the games on the more expensive services, such as YouTube TV ($73 per month), Hulu + Live TV ($70 per month) and DirecTV Stream ($75 per month).

ABC can be pulled down with one of the best TV antennas.

Sling TV:50% on your first month!

<a href="https://sling-tv.pxf.io/c/221109/1132376/14334?subId1=hawk-custom-tracking&sharedId=hawk&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sling.com%2F" data-link-merchant="sling.com"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sling TV: You can get ESPN3 in the Sling Orange package, and ABC in select regions via Sling Blue. The 30-plus channels in the lineup include AMC, CNN, Food Network, AMC, Comedy Central, HGTV and many more. And you can save <a href="https://sling-tv.pxf.io/c/221109/1132376/14334?subId1=hawk-custom-tracking&sharedId=hawk&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sling.com%2F" data-link-merchant="sling.com"" data-link-merchant="sling.com"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">50% on your first month!

Fubo.TV:a 7-day free trial

<a href="https://www.fubo.tv/welcome?irad=366904&irmp=221109&subId1=hawk-custom-tracking" data-link-merchant="fubo.tv"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Fubo.TV: One of the best streaming services for sports, Fubo may not have had TNT, but it does offer ABC. It's got <a href="https://www.fubo.tv/welcome?irad=366904&irmp=221109&subId1=hawk-custom-tracking" data-link-merchant="fubo.tv"" data-link-merchant="fubo.tv"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">a 7-day free trial so you don't need to pay up front.

Heat vs. Nuggets series schedule

All times Eastern, all games on ABC

* = if necessary

  • Game 1: Heat @ Nuggets | Thurs., June 1 at 8:30 p.m.
  • Game 2: Heat @ Nuggets | Sun., June 4 at 8 p.m.
  • Game 3: Nuggets @ Heat | Wed., June 7 at 8:30 p.m.
  • Game 4: Nuggets @ Heat | Fri., June 9 at 8:30 p.m.
  • * Game 5: Heat @ Nuggets | Mon., June 12 at 8:30 p.m.
  • * Game 6: Nuggets @ Heat | Thurs., June 15 at 8:30 p.m.
  • * Game 7: Heat @ Nuggets | Sun., June 18 at 8 p.m.

Heat vs. Nuggets live streams around the world

How to watch Heat vs. Nuggets live streams in the UK

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NBA fans in the U.K. will watch the Heat vs Nuggets live stream on Sky Sports Main Event and Arena.

If you already have a Sky subscription that doesn't include Sports, you'll need to pay £24/month to add those channels. You'll also gain access to coverage in 4K and HDR, so long as you also have an HDR-ready Sky Q box and HLG-compatible TV.

If you don't want to shell out for a full Sky sub, you could also consider its Now Sports streaming service. Pricing starts at £11.98 for day & mobile month membership, with month-long access for £34.99.

Not in the U.K. right now? You may need a little help from a service such as ExpressVPN.

Heat vs Nuggets live streams in Canada

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Hoops fans in Canada can catch the Heat vs Nuggets live stream on TSN. It's airing on TSN4 at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Can you watch Heat vs Nuggets live streams in Australia?

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Probably. Aussies can watch the 2023 Playoff live streams on Kayo Sports, a major destination for NBA action. ESPN Australia, if you get it, is another means, but it's unclear if either will host the Heat vs Nuggets live stream.

Kayo offers a 14-day free trial for both its Basic and Premium plans, more than enough time to confirm they're actually showing the games. The Kayo One package costs $25 per month thereafter, and Kayo Basic is $30.

The $35 per month Premium Kayo plan gives you all the same things as the normal plan, but it offers three simultaneous streams. The Basic plan gives you two streams at the same time. 

Not in Australia but usually a Kayo subscriber? You may need a little help from a service such as ExpressVPN.

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Henry T. Casey
Managing Editor (Entertainment, Streaming)

Henry is a managing editor at Tom’s Guide covering streaming media, laptops and all things Apple, reviewing devices and services for the past seven years. Prior to joining Tom's Guide, he reviewed software and hardware for TechRadar Pro, and interviewed artists for Patek Philippe International Magazine. He's also covered the wild world of professional wrestling for Cageside Seats, interviewing athletes and other industry veterans.